It started with an idea a little over 10 years ago. Eric Hayes and Pam Kaye were getting gas at the Cenex station in Stevensville. Pam had been working at the Bitterroot Brewery and thought, why can’t we start our own?
At the time, there were 18 operating breweries in Montana. Craft brewing was a new business to the state. Fast forward 10 years and now there is a booming industry with over 80 breweries.
The historic building that now houses the Blacksmith Brewing Company in downtown Stevensville was sitting empty. It had recently been a welding shop and before that a blacksmithing operation. It needed a lot of work but luckily Hayes had experience in building. A proclaimed “ex-builder” transformed himself into the owner of a brewery and the Blacksmith Brewing Company was born.
The brewery has become a community meeting place in addition to a great place to have a beer. Groups gather for work meetings, birthday parties, retirement celebrations, memorials and even baby showers. Owner Hayes is a passionate champion of the town and the local economy. The brewery hosts a charity fund raiser every month, most recently holding its biannual barbecue for Stevensville’s fire department.
Blacksmith Brewing Company is a strong supporter of local and regional arts. Every month the taproom highlights a local artist, displaying their work and promoting them on social media. You can also enjoy the diverse sounds of live music from western Montana and beyond every Wednesday and Saturday night from 6 to 8 p.m. Always free to the public, the music ranges from well-known favorites like Tom Catmull and John Floridis to brand new talent.
Being active in the community is a big part of what makes the brewery special but the cornerstone of Blacksmith Brewing’s success is the great quality of their beer. In the 10 years of operation, there have been three brewers. Mike Howard was the first and he crafted many of the fine flagship beers that you can still enjoy today. Mike went off on his own to open Great
Burn Brewery in Missoula. He was replaced by head brewer Sheldon Scrivner, who received his training in Germany. Last year Sheldon decided to make a big move to Canada but not before handing over the reins to the current head brewer, Jake Rausch. Jake has added a new energy to the brew house and recently made some great creations like the Octoberfest beer and the Anniversary Imperial IPA.
“I’m happy to be here with Blacksmith Brewing Company,” says Jake. “It has been great continuing the tradition of making high quality beer for western Montana and I look forward to the many batches ahead.”
Hayes attributes the prosperity of the business to the community of Stevensville and the surrounding area. Without a booming and vibrant community, the Brewery would have not thrived. Eric says he “looks forward to continued growth and adventures ahead.”